Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - PREDICTION: Denver Broncos Will Win 13 Games In 2026 Despite Tough Schedule

Starting point is 00:00:00 In 2025, your Denver Broncos, they won 14 games in the regular season. What if I tell you, they got a tougher schedule this year, but they're one win shy of what they did last year. Would you take that? We'll break it all down here on today's episode of the show. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Happy Friday, Broncos country.

Starting point is 00:00:29 Cody Rourke, Sarah Benadry here for another episode, Locked on Broncos, as we are just days away from the start. start of training camp. And so because of that, we're getting into list season, prediction season, all that fun stuff here is we're going to go through and predict the Broncos 2026 NFL record, where they're going to be at in comparison to last year. Obviously, a team that rattled off 11 straight victories. We'll go through and talk about where Denver may encounter their losses on the schedule, especially with a brutal start to the season. But ultimately, our takeaway is going to be the Broncos. They come away with one less win than they did last year. And that's not a bad

Starting point is 00:01:05 thing, folks. We'll break it all down here on today's episode of the show. So, Sarah, we are going to do this because yesterday we predicted the Broncos 53 man roster in Broncos country. If you missed that, make sure you go check that out because there were some tough decisions. There were a lot of tough calls from a number standpoint where we're out with that. So make sure you check that out. But today's fun. Normally, Sarah, and everyone knows this, I don't like doing record predictions or game predictions, but I might as well join in on the fun because it really doesn't matter. It's not meant to be taken seriously, but it is a measure as to a measure as to like where do we think this team will be?

Starting point is 00:01:37 I think that's always important here. So let's get into the first half of the schedule. You and I, and we did not collaborate on this beforehand. We came away very similar in our thought process on this team. So there was fun kind of putting this together. Week one, we all know the Broncos. They open up on the road at Kansas City against the Chiefs, Monday night football. You and I both have them winning that game.

Starting point is 00:02:01 And look, I'm excited about that because it is time for people. to stop talking about Kansas City. And it is time for people to start talking about the Denver Broncos. No better way to start that than a Monday night football victory to open up the year. To go on the road to cap off week one and just sort of rain on the chiefs off season parade, right? I mean, it feels like already everybody's kind of re-anointing the Kansas City Chiefs. Like they're going to come back and be these world beaters once again with Patrick Mahomes coming off of injury.

Starting point is 00:02:32 He's posting the, you know, alarm clock. or whatever he's doing. That would be a great way to start the season, as well as in week two to get some revenge in the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think, Cody, it's fascinating to me as, you know,

Starting point is 00:02:46 those who are listening don't see the graphics. You and I did these blind predictions. And in the first six games, you and I predicted the same exact losses at the 49ers and at home against the Seahawks on a short week. Now, I need to clarify something, okay,

Starting point is 00:03:02 because the listeners of the show and longtime listeners, every dayers of the show know that I'm of the belief that this team is 17 and no until we ain't. So when the games come around, when we're playing at San Francisco in week four, I ain't going to be predicting a loss. I'm going to be talking all about how the Broncos are going to be able to win that game. You and I, that's what we do. Like, just like the coaching staff doesn't go into a meeting every, you know, on a given week and say, hey, you know what?

Starting point is 00:03:31 We're actually projected to lose this week by most people out there. So we'll just take this one and we'll try to get back at it next week. No, they plan every week as though they're going to be able to win. And you'll figure, I mean, the Broncos have done a pretty good job of finding out ways to do that. So last year, 14 and 3 only got blown out really one time, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against the Colts and Chargers. So just to clarify that as we go through these predictions, but you and I both have them also beating the Rams in the first portion of this season,

Starting point is 00:04:04 which I felt really convicted of as I was putting my predictions together, just not thinking like the Broncos are so much better than the Rams, but I think that game being in Denver, in prime time, it's a big opportunity for this Broncos team. I think it's an opportunity for them to flex a little bit against a great team early on in the season and to kind of show the world in a Super Bowl preview, hey, this is what we're made of. Well, and right now the Rams, from the outside looking in,

Starting point is 00:04:31 they're widely viewed as the favorite to win the Super Bowl this year. They are what everyone is penciling is, hey, pencil in the Rams for the NFC on the Super Bowl side of things here. It's going to be a tough matchup. I mean, you got Matthew Stafford, who is the MVP last year. You got Devante Adams, Pooka and Nakua, two really, really good wide receivers. They got a really good run game with Kairn Williams as well. We know they love using a lot of tight ends. So how the Broncos try to counter that 12 and 13 personnel look that Sean McBay loves to implement quite a bit.

Starting point is 00:04:58 Who matches up against Devante? Who matches up against Pooka? You know, I mean, those are the games you got to go through in your. head here. And on top of that, too, the defense now with Miles Garrett being at it. They were a really good defense last year in LA. Well, now they got even better. And if Aaron Donald somehow comes out of retirement, just, okay, like they're going to push all the chips. That favoritism now moves in. This is the one game where I was the most conflicted, Sarah. I was like, do the Broncos lose at home to the rems? If this was in L.

Starting point is 00:05:26 I'd say, okay, I just think you pencil this one in as an L. And look, once again, this is a fun thought exercise. We'll see. I'm of the mindset, folks. where I really believe in one game out of time. Focus on week one, then focus on week two. So for me, this is a little uncomfortable doing these projections here. But I have never been afraid to kind of put my cards on the table in terms of predicting the record. A few years ago, I predicted the Broncos would win 10 games. Bonix's rookie year, guess what they did?

Starting point is 00:05:52 They won 10 games. Last year I said they'd win 11 or 12. They exceeded that. They won 14. So who am I to complain here? So putting the cards on the table here as well, 49ers, this is the one I was like, all right. The 49ers always tricky. Kyle Shannon, early on, I imagine that San Francisco will be pretty healthy early on.

Starting point is 00:06:10 It's usually the midway point of the year toward the end of the season where they encounter some injuries that kind of de-reled them a little bit. Hopefully that's not the case for them. I want everybody in the NFL to stay healthy because then you don't have any built-in narrative excuses. And certainly the same thing applies for the Broncos. Hopefully everyone can remain healthy. This is the one I was like, man, could the Broncos win four straight games? I think that they could, but man, I think people looking at this, if you're not a fan of the Broncos, They'd be like, man, these guys are crazy.

Starting point is 00:06:35 They're smoking something. Trust me, we're not. And then we go week five on the road at the chargers. This is the time where I think you've got to put the chargers back in place. Because I think really L.A is the biggest threat to Denver in the AFC West. No disrespect to Kansas City. And this goes back to week one. I think the Broncos, I think everybody should respect Kansas City,

Starting point is 00:06:54 but I don't think anybody fears Kansas City anymore. And that is a shift in the power. L.A., in my opinion, is the Broncos biggest threat to the AFC West. Yeah, I would say so. especially because in a head-to-head matchups, like Bo Nix has yet to win when Justin Herbert is starting for the L.A. Chargers. So kind of funny how that works because pretty sure Drew Locke had decent success against Justin Herbert led Chargers team. So it's just funny how that goes in the NFL. And unfortunately, at this point, that is the one bit of bragging rights that the Chargers have over Denver,

Starting point is 00:07:28 although ultimately the Broncos have progressed in two years better than the Chargers have in six with Justin. and Herbert at the helm. So very interesting there. I think at Chargers doesn't really matter to me when you look at sort of like road versus home opponents. The playing in Los Angeles, we know, has never really been a distinct disadvantage for the Broncos, nor has it been an advantage for the Chargers in really any way, shape, or form. So I don't imagine that being the case once again. In fact, we know Broncos country travels exceptionally well when they play in L.A. And so it's usually a C. of orange battling against the powder blues in the stands there anyway and battling to be the loudest. So I think that's one of those situations where you kind of look at that as almost a

Starting point is 00:08:15 neutral site when it comes to the division rivalry, at least in terms of the amount that Broncos country will travel there. So I anticipate that being a really tight game. That's the other thing. It's like last year at this time, I'm sure we could go back and pull up our predictions from last season. Similarly timed game, I think week four or five last year against Philadelphia in Philadelphia. And you and I said, well, I mean, the realistic prediction is that the Broncos will lose at least a few games because nobody's ever gone 17 and 0. So with that in mind, like you're going to Philadelphia.

Starting point is 00:08:49 You're playing in the noon slot. Like it just seems to make sense. But then the Broncos go and win that game. And then they lose another game that we didn't think they would against the Colts early on. Yeah. So it just, you just never know. you kind of got to look at those, like you said, those opponents and the coaches and the quarterbacks that you're facing in situations. That's why I kind of put down the 49ers as a pencil then loss early on, as well as Seattle early on because I think that, so going up against Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, assuming that team is relatively healthy, they are going to be very good.

Starting point is 00:09:27 They're one of the best teams in the NFL last year, even without their starting quarterback for a lot of the season. the Seahawks elite defense is going to keep a game tight, so it could go one way or the other. And I just think that's a short week too. Yeah, it's a short week. I'd love to get off the Schneid against the Seahawks. It feels like they've kind of had Denver's number. So, and certainly, you know, the Super Bowl is evidence of that a handful of years ago.

Starting point is 00:09:52 We don't talk about that on the show. But, yeah, I think ultimately this, what is it, four and two record that we have projected in the first six weeks, regardless of how, yeah, I would take it and it feels right. Yeah, Broncos country and let us know how you feel about the first six weeks because arguably that first six week stretch is the toughest stretch of opponents for any team on the schedule right now on paper in the NFL. Coming up next, Sarah and I, we're going to give you our thoughts on week seven through 12

Starting point is 00:10:19 where we think the Broncos will end up, especially another matchup against Kansas City Chiefs here on today's episode of the show. Today's episode, Lockdown, Broncos is brought to you by friends over there at Square. If you've ever tapped the pay and thought, whoa, that was fast. Well, it was probably Square. Whether you're selling lattes, you're cutting hair, or you're running a packed game day spot. You're managing a design studio. Square helps you run your business without running yourself into the ground.

Starting point is 00:10:41 And Square is the platform behind the scenes of so many businesses that you already love with one connected system to take payments, manage inventory, run payroll, and track it all in one place. And businesses using Square Online earn 36% more revenue on average. I love the coffee spot down the road that I always go to. It's tap the pay. I also get rewards points. My local business takes care of me for help and take care of them as a loyal, consistent customer. If you're starting a business or running one that deserves better tools,

Starting point is 00:11:07 Square helps you sell, manage and grow without slowing down. And right now you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at Square.com slash go slash locked on NFL. That's SQU-A-R-E dot com slash geo. L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-F-L. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today. Today's show is also brought to you by our friends over there at

Starting point is 00:11:27 Odo running a business shouldn't feel like you're trying to connect a bunch of systems that were never designed to work together. You got one app for accounting. You got another app for inventory and another one for sales. And somehow none of them talk to each other. Well, guess what? That's where Odo comes in handy because Odo is an all in one business management software that brings every part of your business together in one powerful platform. From sales and accounting to inventory and marketing, everything works in one place, helping your team move faster, stay organized, and focus on growing the business instead of managing software and the best organization. know that success isn't this about talent.

Starting point is 00:12:00 It's about having everyone working toward the same goal, and that's true in sports, just like it is in business. The Denver Broncos last year, they won 14 games by sticking together, by investing in their talent. And that was a process that was years in the making with good roster building with Sean Payton and George Payton. And now in 2026, the Broncos are expected to win a lot more as well. Great organizations win because operations matter.

Starting point is 00:12:22 And that's why you should get O-D-D-D-O-D-com slash lockdown. That's O-D-O-O-O-O-D-com. lock on how will the Broncos follow up their hypothetical four and two start on the schedule while Cody and I we've got a lot more wins in mind Broncos country we're going to tell you all about it breaking down the schedule one last time before training camp arrives and you know what now is a great time to say thank you to every single one of you out there all you every dayers that make us part of your day however you choose to do so we appreciate it so much we're so excited for football to finally back we know you are as well and Cody it's our last real

Starting point is 00:12:57 opportunity to kind of look at the hypotheticals for the season. We both have the Broncos winning a lot of games. Spoiler alert, as we're going to continue predicting the schedule here. But we have them starting off four and two. I'm interested to see this next section of the season because you and I did our blind predictions here. At least you knew mine going in, but I didn't know yours going in. We've got a lot of similar ones in those first six games.

Starting point is 00:13:22 But coming off of the end of that, we ended on a sour note, right? We had them losing to Seattle the short week. I think we're going to get back on track, though, here starting in week seven against the Arizona Cardinals. Yeah, the Arizona Cardinals game. That's one I think you look at it. And this is always there. Could it be a trap game? I mean, on paper, you look at it.

Starting point is 00:13:38 Like, we don't know what Arizona is going to be like. We expect them to be terrible. But the Broncos, they get a little bit of a mini by week. And will Jared Stim be the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals during this week? Maybe. Who knows? We'll have to see here. But opening up week seven, you and I both have the Broncos winning on the road against the Arizona Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:13:56 And then that sets up a week eight matchup at home against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs here once again. Now, this one's going to be, we both have the Broncos winning that one. Once again, back-to-back gears. We have Denver sweep in Kansas City, which I'm sure Chiefs fans will find this and they'll be like, you guys are crazy. That's not going to happen. Like I said, Father Tom catches up to everybody in the Chiefs. They had an impressive run.

Starting point is 00:14:16 They did. Bravo. But that time is now over. It's the Broncos time to run the AFC West here once again, which is great because really it's been the Chiefs and the Broncos that have been running the West for what the last. 15, 16 years, it's got to be painful for those LA franchises that haven't won anything, but yet they have the most to say on social media. Anyways, back to the topic here. I think that this matchup against Mahomes and them in week eight, knock on what all things considered, you know, he stays healthy.

Starting point is 00:14:41 I think you'll probably see a little bit of a better version of the chiefs here. Just because I think week one, Mahomes coming off the multi-ligament knee injury, I don't think the expectation is for Mahomes to come out and look like Superman week one. And that plays in their hands at the Broncos. But I think by week eight, you might start to see a little bit of a sharper Mahomes and more comfortable. And now they might actually have some pieces in place that allow him to just go out there and continue to play without maybe having to put it all on his shoulders. We know they invested in the run game. Week eight's going to be very interesting.

Starting point is 00:15:10 I think this game will be a lot closer than the Monday night game. But I got Denver winning this one as well. Yeah, I do too. And I think that they're both going to be close games as we really come to expect the Broncos and the Chiefs. I mean, ultimately the Broncos should be on. a pretty substantial winning streak against Kansas City right now, if not for that block field goal, you know, a couple of seasons ago.

Starting point is 00:15:32 So I really feel as though the Broncos have the talent edge on the roster, but that doesn't mean that Kansas City can't come through situationally in a close game. So obviously you've got to find ways to continue closing things out against a team like the chiefs, which is, I mean, that's a top tier ability of any team to do that in the NFL today, I think, Even though the Chiefs are down last year, if you can beat this team situationally, meaning close out a victory against a Patrick Mahomes led chief's team,

Starting point is 00:16:03 that's the mark of a pretty darn good football team, in my opinion. So I think if the Broncos can do that twice in the first half of the season, that would prove once again that they're for real. And then you come out of that with a sneaky game against Carolina, right? In week nine, Carolina was one of the more improved teams in the NFL last year. Their defense substantially improved. Bryce Young still a bit of a question mark.

Starting point is 00:16:26 A lot of interesting playmakers on that offense. This is where we first have our deviation on our prediction. You had the Broncos dropping that one on the road against Carolina. I've still got them winning. But interested to hear your thoughts on this. Are you high on Carolina this year? You think it's just kind of a on the road, unfamiliar opponent sort of thing. What are your thoughts there?

Starting point is 00:16:48 Well, I felt like last year we saw it and certainly saw it in the playoffs. I think defensively, like Carolina Panthers were one of those teams that kind of snuck up on people last year. And they, if I'm not mistaken, didn't they beat the Los Angeles Rams in the regular season? They did Matthew Stafford ended up throwing, you know, pick six in that game. They made life difficult for the NFL MVP last year. So I think that defense is going to be tougher. They've added some nice pieces to a Gero Evers unit as well. And this one, once again, if this was in Denver, then I would say, okay, I'm going to lean it towards Denver.

Starting point is 00:17:18 But this one's on the road at Carolina, which I also feel like will be a little bit of a tough place. to play circumstantially. I think that they would, the playmaker, because you mentioned that they have on the offensive side of the ball, I know they've invested a lot in Jalen Coker, who had some success against Denver when they played a few years ago in one of Bo Nix's big games that he had against them back then, Bryce Young since then, really was after he played the Broncos, just a couple of years ago, and Bo Nix's rookie year, that's when really Bryce Young started getting things going again because there was a whole lot of conversations about, hey,

Starting point is 00:17:48 they're going to bench him, they're going to move on from it. It's like, wait a minute, that's crazy. and then now he's kind of the guy again there. So to me, I think this one could be a coin flip. But I've got them just because once again, Denver would be on a massive win streak, which I wouldn't be opposed to. I just think this is one of those sneaky games

Starting point is 00:18:03 that Denver could end up dropping to Carolina. I think Carolina is going to be a good team. Once again, I think they're going to be back in the playoffs this upcoming season. But it is a loss, in my opinion, on this one. Then Denver goes into a week 10 by. I've got them coming out, winning against the Raiders at home, playing much better than we saw the last time Denver played the Raiders at home in a 10-7 slobber knocker on Thursday night football.

Starting point is 00:18:27 And I've got them winning at the Steelers where you have them dropping that game. And that is a Black Friday game as well. So there's two deviations from us on this particular stretch of the schedule. Yeah. Once again, like you can't say they're going to win every single game. I know. That's part of my problem. Because then we're called homers.

Starting point is 00:18:46 Then we're homers. Yeah. We'll be called that anyway for predicting as many wins as we have on this one. But yeah, I think it's just I just saw like, okay, yeah, at Steelers, it's going to be cold there most likely. It's going to be rough elements, you know, could come down to a tight game. You just never know. So that was why I picked. There was nothing inherently about the Steelers.

Starting point is 00:19:09 I don't think the Steelers are going to be very good. I think Steelers are going to be one of those teams that's like eight, nine wins once again. It would seem to be like poetic. justice for the first year post Mike McCarthy for them to finally have a losing season after none while he was there. So, or not Mike McCarthy, Mike Tomlin. Now it's Mike McCarthy as the head coach there. But we'll see what happens. I think they'll be okay, but not great. And so the Broncos could go on the road and lose that game on a shorter week. Where I'm really interested in this stretch is, Cody, after the Broncos play the Panthers, it's Denver's by week. So obviously coming off a buy, I'm going

Starting point is 00:19:45 expect this team to play really well. But that first game, yeah, hopefully, that first game against the Raiders this season in week 11, will Max Crosby even be playing for the Raiders? Like, will they be so bad that they would actually trade it? Could they still trade him before the season? So I know we kind of talked after his failed trade with the Baltimore Ravens that,

Starting point is 00:20:07 well, great, now you got to play Max Crosby again twice this season. But hold the phone there because the Broncos don't play them until after the trade deadline and if the Raiders are out of playoff contention early on shoot they might get whatever they possibly can for max and he might be off the schedule entirely so yeah i'll be interested to see if that happens and if the broncos also the fortuitous timing that they are on thereby week during the trade deadline will they make any moves to upgrade during that time be interesting to see

Starting point is 00:20:37 yeah there's going to be a lot of moving pieces during that november 9th through the 14th stretch there I'm excited to see how it's all going to go here and where the Denver Broncos will ultimately finish well, weeks 13 through 18, there will be some tough challenges, including a Christmas Day matchup against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, where the Broncos continue building on the win they had in the playoffs

Starting point is 00:20:58 or will Josh Allen and the bills put coal in their stockings? We'll break down here on today's episode of the show. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. We talk about mental health more openly now, but asking for help can still feel hard. And BetterHelp's latest research confirms it. BetterHelp's 2026, state of state, Sigma report surveyed 2,000 Americans in real that 85% of Americans believe getting support

Starting point is 00:21:19 is wise, yet 74%, say society discourages people from doing so. That disconnect is interesting, and most people believe support is a good thing, but actually taking that step can still be difficult. So it's worth asking, what helps make that conversation feel more normal and more encouraged? BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform with over 30,000 therapists globally and has helped more than 6 million people connect with support. Through a short questionnaire, Bear Help does the initial match with the therapist so you can focus on their therapy goals.

Starting point is 00:21:48 And if the match isn't right, users can switch to a different therapist from tailored recommendations. So much of today's world involves us staring at a phone. And there's a large disconnect. People talk to each other a certain way on social media. But one thing is clear. Social media is not real life. And it's important that you connect with yourself and that if you are struggling, you ask for support. There's nothing wrong with that.

Starting point is 00:22:10 There's actually a strength in being able to. ask for support when you need it. And you can do that today with better help. Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with better help. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com slash locked on. That's better. H-E-L-P dot com slash locked on.

Starting point is 00:22:27 To close out the 2026 regular season, the Broncos have some tough matchups on hand as we're looking at how this Broncos team will finish the season. And it's not how you start. It's how you finish. And hopefully the Broncos can continue the trend that they had going back to 2025. Winning close games, going on an 11 straight game win streak. Hopefully that's the case here in 2026, even though that the schedule is going to be a lot more difficult. Thanks for Rock

Starting point is 00:22:52 with the Seattle on podcast network, your team every day, plus the number one sports podcast network in the country. We've highlighted weeks one through 12 so far here for this Broncos team. Sarah, let's get into week 13 and beyond the Broncos. Coming out into week 13, the Broncos will be taking on the Miami Dolphins who are going through a large scale rebuild, the most depth, in NFL history right now across their entire roster. Jalen Wattel against his former team, this one's definitely got to be the W. Yeah, I think so. I mean, you look at that stretch right there, Cody.

Starting point is 00:23:24 And the one thing that bothers me about it is playing bad teams late in the season means that those teams are all pretty much playing with house money. And they're playing free and they're playing, you know, just loose. And like they understand that they're auditioning for jobs. and they relish the opportunity to play against a team like the Broncos late in the season because, well, it's going to make them a lot of money if they can play well against a team like the Denver Broncos. So I would almost rather have those guys early on, but at the same time, you know, we'll see. I think, yes, a revenge game against Miami for Jalen Wattle or whatever you want to call that.

Starting point is 00:24:00 I mean, it's not like he necessarily has to get revenge on them after, you know, getting put into a better opportunity, but maybe to kind of show them what they're missing a little bit right now. as they rebuild. And at the Jets, I think, I hope, Cody, this is the annual matchup

Starting point is 00:24:17 that makes no sense to me against the Jets. I don't know how the Broncos keep playing the Jets every single year, but I really sincerely hope that we can get a true separation type of victory

Starting point is 00:24:30 against the Jets this season because it feels like they've been playing the Broncos tight, which makes no sense, but at the same time, that the NFL sometimes doesn't make any sense. Look, I know Gino Smith is their core.

Starting point is 00:24:41 quarterback. Maybe he won't be in this game. I think the Jets are going to be drastically better this year than what we've seen in recent memory. I thought they had a terrific off season in terms of what they did in the NFL draft, adding some very, very young talented playmakers. They retained Breece Hall. Obviously, they got Braylin Allen behind him. He was also very talented running back. They have good weapons. I just don't know about Gino Smith. I think Darren Mugi. Former Broncos assistant GM, by the way, has done a really good job. This could be the the Mugi game potentially here. This one, in my opinion, I think is a little bit of a coin flip. But then week 15, you go on the road at the Raiders, which once again, I mean, there's a lot of Raiders fans there in Vegas, but Broncos country travels well there.

Starting point is 00:25:18 I think Debra continues their win streak against the Raiders resetting that. But then it gets to the Christmas Day marquee matchup against the Buffalo Bills, a rematch from the AFC Division round of the playoffs where, look, the Broncos got up pretty significant. What was it? 23 to 13 or 23 to 10, you know, a halftime against the bills there. Josh Allen and the bills turned it over five times. The Broncos, they did a really good job. And when they found their back against the wall, we saw Bo Nix put on his superman cape against what the NFL perceives is their Superman.

Starting point is 00:25:50 That is Josh Allen. This one, I feel like it's going to be a close game. But I have Denver dropping this one. And here's the reason why, sir, I don't think you necessarily care about dropping this game, right? Because more than likely, the bills might be a team you have to play here once again in the playoffs. I would rather Denver drop a regular season game than a playoff game to them. And that's going to be my reasoning for handing them an L in this game.

Starting point is 00:26:12 I just think that it's going to be a close game. There's going to be a lot riding on it for Josh Allen and the bills. We'll see where, I mean, I'm also curious to think, where are these teams at here in week 16? What are the storylines? Are they impacted by injuries? Like, these are mysteries right now. But right now on paper, thinking about it best on best, it is going to be a close game. It's going to be a great game.

Starting point is 00:26:30 I think it's going to be the best game of the Christmas Day lineup. But I got Denver losing this one. And this is kind of the one you're like, ah, do you pencil this one in? Okay. Yeah. Do you selfish? hope for good vibes on Christmas or do you take the L and say, you know what, they got us in the regular season. We're going to get them in the playoffs when they inevitably come together.

Starting point is 00:26:50 And that was my honestly, like that was my logical reasoning behind this, Cody is exactly that. As I was saying to myself, okay, lose to the bills now, beat them in the playoffs again or, you know, whatever, have more playoff success, whatever you want to call it. I'm equally interested by the fact that we both had the Broncos going on the road and being the Patriots in week 17 because I believe based on what I saw last year, the Broncos are substantially better than the Patriots. And I know they both finished with the same record, but the Patriots also benefited from playing the easiest schedule in the NFL. And we always talk about, well, everybody plays tough schedules in the NFL. Well, the Patriots last year did not. I mean, their opponent win percentage was legitimately the lowest of any team in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:27:37 They played a lot of backup quarterbacks. They dominated a lot of bad teams. And then they proved in the playoffs when they had to go up against great defenses, even though they endured and found ways to win, they really struggled badly against good teams, including the Broncos in the AFC championship game. They were gifted a victory. So I think the Broncos are quite a bit better than the Patriots.

Starting point is 00:27:59 Now, we'll see how that plays out over the course of a season. because right now it's July. But yeah, that's where I, I mean, I really felt confident about that one as well. Well, I was looking at it too. And look, here's the thing. I dislike New England more than anybody else. But I will say the one thing that Patriots did last year that the Broncos didn't is that they blew out the teams they should have blown out. Right.

Starting point is 00:28:20 And there were some games where Denver, it's like, had, they should have blown this team out. And they didn't understand it. But you know, they, you know what matters? Winning is winning. A wise man once said, doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning is winning. So if you live your life, quarter mile out of time, folks like me, you're going to roll with that as well here. I was really kind of conflicted between Week 16, Week 17.

Starting point is 00:28:40 I was like, okay, do I have the Broncos beating the bills, but losing to the Patriots. And then I just thought of all the crazy people on Twitter from the Patriots fan base, the Drake May fan boys out there. I was like, you know what? Nothing would be better than Bo Nix beating Drake May on the road, week 17. I'm here for it. And then obviously the Chargers game. That one could always be in this room because maybe, maybe there's AFC. West divisional claim at stake or maybe both teams are already locked up in terms of

Starting point is 00:29:08 positioning from a seating standpoint. And maybe the Broncos have already won the West. And if they've already won the West and let's say they're in a position, if they have to play for a first round by or if they have it, then I imagine that maybe Denver would rest their starters in that game. But that's why I got them beating the charters here. And ultimately, Sarah, it boils down. Once again, I had mine already saved.

Starting point is 00:29:28 You sent yours over to me so we could put the graphics together. we both have them finishing 13 and 4, which is obviously one less win than they had last season, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. That doesn't mean that the Broncos are going to be worse, even if they lose one more game than they did last year. George Payton himself even said it. We feel like we have a better team,

Starting point is 00:29:48 but we may not have 14 wins next season. That's just how the game goes. Curious for your thoughts on that, man, because I debated between 12 and 5, 13, and 4. That's kind of where I was kind of debating on. with this team. Yeah, I was too. I mean, I think at a bare minimum, you know, 11 wins feels, feels like the floor for this Broncos team and then anything above that feels probable, right? And that's where I kind of am at. George Peyton said it best. This could be a better team

Starting point is 00:30:18 with a worse record, right? So I don't have any like lack of confidence that if the Broncos win 11 games, that they could still be a better team than they were last year at 14 and 3 because what are we looking for from this team this year. We're looking for better overall balance offensively. We're looking for better every down improvement from the offense. We're looking for more takeaways from the defense. We assume if all those things happen that this team is going to automatically be so much better than 14 and 3. However, that's just not the way the NFL works, right? I mean, they could be so much better in those categories and blow out more teams, but they also might lose a couple more tight games just because you don't have the ball last

Starting point is 00:31:00 in one game or you might make one more mistake than the other team. So that's the reality of the NFL and that's the reality that Broncos country has to brace for this year is that this team should be, I think will be better than they were last year in just about every way. And yet the record may be worse in, you know, by a game to maybe even three. Yeah. Here's my thing. As long as the Broncos have double digit wins, that's the formula.

Starting point is 00:31:28 That's the formula. The win double-digit games. Your first six are brutal in terms of like what it looks like on paper right now. But then again, we're looking at it as it could be brutal. Some of these teams that we perceive to be so good can end up being terrible. That's the mystery of the NFL. You know, the momentum from last year doesn't necessarily carry over. So what are you going to do about it now?

Starting point is 00:31:46 The Broncos mindset from what Sean Payton has instilled so far in the offseason program is, last year was good. It doesn't matter. We're flipping over the board. The pieces have to be reassembled. And we have to go take care of business. That is the goal here. Broncos country. Share with those your thoughts on the Broncos record in 2026. What is your prediction? Have fun with it. Share yours with us here on today's episode of the show. That'll wrap up today's episode. Next week, it is the start of training camp. Veterans report on Tuesday. Sarah and I, we're going to have you covered with the top things that we're looking for when the Broncos report for day one at training camp on our next episode. Lockdown Broncos. We'll see you then.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - PREDICTION: Denver Broncos Will Win 13 Games In 2026 Despite Tough Schedule

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.